Could be some Carpal Tunnel Dynamic, could be some Wrist Tendonitis dynamic, could be some Tennis Elbow dynamic, could be some Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

They all share the same dynamic, really, it's just a matter of where it shows up in your body. Some people have pain and/or Tendonitis is one spot, some people have Tendonitis symptoms in several locations.

It depends on your body, and how you use your body.

Increasing tightness comes and goes, then increasing pain comes and goes, and numbness adds in eventually.

It sounds like you have tight muscles and bad posture stepping on the hose of the nerve up at your neck/front of chest, and overuse issues in your lower arms.

That's pretty much how it goes for everybody, though it always looks

a little different as far as when where and how.

Predictably, if you keep doing what you've been doing, it will 'get worse'.

Now, it's just a matter of reversing the dynamic.

So, to help identify exactly what is going on....

1. How long has this been going on? 6 months, you say?

2. What do you do for work and play. I'm looking for what activities and posture you are in most of the time.

3. What have you done for this so far? What has helped, what hasn't?

4. How old are you?

5. General state of health?

6. History of whiplash or head trauma? (falling off a horse, boxing, etc) Any other injury?

The more details, the better.

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I am 38 years old. I have been a student for the past four years so I am at the desk a lot, sometimes up to nine hours per day.

I used to work parttime at an office job for five years up until August 2008 - I stopped last year because that was when i first noticed some soreness in my right wrist. I felt it was the job because some of my colleges complained of similar issues.

I also used to wear high heel shoes at least five days a week since I was 22 years old.
Four years ago I started having lumbar problems:lower back pain, stiffness.

3. What have you done for this so far? What has helped, what hasn't?

I havent had any treatment so far, but my doctor is sending me to a physiotherapist. Who would you recommend?

Not sitting at the computer typing for hours helps.Not lifting the vacum cleaner with the right hand helps because I use it everyday, and I am not sure if lifting it is causing damage.

5. General state of health?

I've only been ill with the flu about three times in my life. I had bronchitis last year for a couple of weeks. I had gallstones removed in 2000, and a type of stomach ulcer in 2006.

6. History of whiplash or head trauma? (falling off a horse, boxing, etc) Any other injury?

I have never had whiplash, I fell off a horse once when I was sixteen but i never felt any pain afterwards.

I only started getting lower back pains in 2006. Stiffness in the lower back, and sometimes I get sore knees, so I stopped wearing high heels.

I forgot to mention I have had a part time job over the last year, some it entails cleaning. I use my right hand a lot when I am cleaning. So I am not sure how this contributes.

Your advice on who is the best health practitioner I should see, and what I should do would be most appreciated as I dont want this problem to become worse.

Jessie

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Joshua Answers:

Before I forget, on a separate bronchitis note, I've had bronchitis issues in the past. The first time I got it I was down and out for 2 full weeks, I thought my throat my swell shut and I was going to die.

Long story short, the thoracic vertabrae have a neurologic connection to the lungs. An osteopath adjusted my thoracic on day 2 of an oncoming 2 week bronchitis bout, and I could feel the energy change in my body. And it was gone by the end of the next day.

Now I have learned to adjust my own thoracics in just the spot that needs it. This nips my bronchitis in the bud if I catch it soon enough, and if I don't it makes a 2 week thing a 2 day thing.

Anyhoo.

It looks at this point like you just have the effects of years of heavy hand use. It happens, just as you describe it. A lot. To a lot of people.

It has exactly what you need to counter the effects on your body from all the computer work and gripping the vacuum and such. Decrease your pain and start your arms back up the path of being happy and healthy.

And then we can fine tune your results if we need to. This set of self care info and activities is my primary recommendation. It is a tool you can use for the rest of your active life.

Professionals wise, I would recommend an skilled massage therapist for direct work on your neck/shoulder/arm/wrist/hand.

Or something like Feldenkrais, which indirectly but powerfully can help you reeducate how your body moves (and counter the years of high heels) so your body can work better.

But I do know my hand is going completely numb and cold. If that's not happening then my arm is stuck bent.

I can't rotate my arm outwards. Help.

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Joshua Comments:

If your hand is going completely numb and cold, that is no bueno.

You should get to work ASAP on getting things working better again.

Maybe it's from the neck, maybe the elbow, maybe the wrist, maybe all three, I certainly can't tell from here.

But at one or more spots, you have too-tight muscle and connective tissue that is compressing the nerve, lack of nutrition which is A. keeping muscle tight and B. keeping inflammation in place and a chronic Process of Inflammation.